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Fit in the city: Toronto’s top fitness instructors will get you off the couch

They push you to your limits, and help you reach your personal goals — they’re also some of the most in-demand instructors across the city. The Star polled some of Toronto’s top fitness clubs for their top instructors. We talked to eight who will whip you into shape.

That it’s like any other. (It’s) truly unique in concept from music, connection to body and becoming synchronized to breath; misfitstudio classes are as challenging as they are beautiful rooted in yoga, inspired by dance and informed by Pilates. Each class is a language of itself.

What’s unique about your class?

A combination of serious strength work, graceful dance-influenced sequences and an overall joy of movement these are standouts. Quite literally, the body doesn’t stop moving for an hour!

What makes your class so popular?

The general lightness and atmosphere and community feel. I encourage everyone to learn about each other, talk about current topics all while participating in class.

Do you use music?

Yes, and it’s loud. It’s massively important to the philosophy of misfitstudio; constant movement and intrinsic rhythm becomes heightened with music giving a feeling of an old school dance class. Also, adding songs with memory adds to a beautifully emotional component to the physical experience of yoga, Pilates or a fusion class.

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How do you prepare for class?

Basically I dance around, meditate in the morning, stay up on amazing music and always take new trainings, courses and workshops.

How do you stay in shape yourself?

I practise what I preach. Everyday movement is necessary to me. Fluid movement is like untangling the body, even just a little stretch and roll around on the floor after you’ve woken from sleep feels great!

What do participants pay per class?

It’s $20 for a pilates/fusion/yoga class, or $27 for a reformer class.

It’s super challenging but really fun! The Top-40 class is a 45-minute ride, based on real indoor cycling principles, which means you’re going to get a real and tough interval-based workout. But because I play (and take requests) current music and videos, every rider gets through the class singing most of songs! Plus the videos are a nice distraction from the suffering.

Every class is always different! Every week there are always new songs and videos (that are usually ridiculous!) to add to the playlist, as well as countless drills, profiles and cycling experiences I like to base my classes on. We’re also the only club in Toronto to use Real Ryder bikes. Real Ryders are unique because of its articulating frame, which means the bike moves, allowing you to engage your core and upper body, improve pedal stroke and form, and have a more genuine feel of riding outside on the road.

What’s the biggest misconception about your class?

The biggest misconception is the class is too hard for our new riders. Most inexperienced riders think they’re “going to die!” and won’t make it through the entire class! This isn’t true. No matter what shape you’re in, you take the class at your own pace and you’re giving it your best. It always takes a class or two to feel comfortable, so don’t let your first class get you down, if it felt a little rough.

What do participants pay per class?

Your first class is $10+hst. After that, a drop-in class is $21+hst. Prices vary based on packages.

First and foremost, it is the only class where you are encouraged to swing around a big iron weight! Kettlebells provide a more engaging, fun and dynamic workout than lifting traditional free weights or barbells. Further, because kettlebell training involves more dynamic, whole-body movement than other strength-training disciplines, it really helps develop participants’ proprioception and awareness of proper body alignment, which are skills that transfer not only to other fitness disciplines, making them safer to participate in, but also to other daily-life activities. It is also one of the best classes for developing explosive power in the lower body.

Do you use music?

I do use music. I tend to choose electro/house-style music with a good beat to keep everyone pumped up and excited to work hard. Having a strong, driving beat playing makes a huge difference in the dedication and focus with which people approach the challenges I throw at them.

What makes your class so popular?

I work hard to make my classes a welcoming, encouraging and challenging environment for beginners, experts, and everyone in between. Moreover, kettlebells provide effective and efficient strength and cardiovascular conditioning.

Because kettlebell moves involve a lot of ballistic movement over a wide range of motion and recruit a large number of different muscles, people notice improvements in their strength, cardiovascular capacity, joint stability, and flexibility after a few weeks of kettlebell class attendance.

What do participants pay per class?

All classes are included with a YMCA membership, so there is no additional fee for the class. (Adult memberships start at $47 per month).

I build new workouts weekly. I have my music planned and I like to change my routines regularly. I review each daily workout and I make sure I know what I’m going to teach for the day and have it written down. I don’t like to make up routines on the spot, but I will give lots of modifications when needed.

What makes your class so popular?

I like to keep the energy high in each class. I try to motivate each person so they have a great workout but also push past their comfort zone and realize what they can really do and how hard they can push themselves in a safe and fun environment.

What’s unique about your class?

I like to give personal attention to everyone and I make sure that each participant has perfect form throughout each exercise; it’s not about quantity it’s about quality. I also like to keep the energy high and keep my participants guessing about the class for the day. I change my routines regularly and they find out what they are doing when they show up.

Do you use music?

Yes, I like variety, all different genres. A few artists would be: Robin Thicke, Sneaker Pimps, Kesha, Pitbull, Skrillex, Will.i.am, MIA, Dev., Flo Rida, Radiohead, Metro Station and David Bowie.

How do you say in shape yourself?

I eat a clean diet. I also teach three spin classes each week and I do two full body-strengthening classes per week, either with my TRX or free weights.

What’s the biggest misconception about your class?

That my classes are going to be easy! For some reason people think they are not going to have a challenging workout when they first meet me, I don’t know why! But I like to challenge people, I like to make them uncomfortable, have them move past their comfort zones, and realize how strong they are in body and mind and that each person can achieve any goal if they put their mind to it.

What do participants pay per class?

Each place is set up differently — RPM is a point system (drop-in rates are $20-25, an eight-week package starts at $320); Gravitate is packages (drop-in rate is $25 per class); Express is memberships (with varying rates).

That it’s for females only. Group fitness classes have classically been attended primarily by women but that is changing. Our first Equinox location to open is in the financial district. There’s a high percentage of male clientele and lots attend group fitness classes. Men need sub-max load training more than they think.

What’s unique about your class?

I teach many formats but one thing they all have in common is great tunes, lots of animated presentation and smile, it doesn’t hurt that much.

How do you prepare for class?

I love to workout so I generally workout before I teach so I can feel the exercises. There’s nothing worse than feeling defeated after class when an instructor asks for something superhuman. Challenge is important but also must be doable. Instructors who don’t work out on their own don’t know when enough is enough.

Do you use music?

Yes! Love the Corey Craig podcast, available through iTunes. It’s free and sick.

What makes your class so popular?

I want all who walk out to feel successful, not defeated. Whether its one inch lower in a squat or one extra push-up, SUCCESS!

What do participants pay per class?

Equinox is members only and GF classes are included in membership. (Memberships start at $165 per month.)

How do you say in shape yourself?

Workout focusing on strength (max load training), and I also physically do approx. 60 per cent of each class. Once a week I throw in a yoga and cycling class, too.

This class is a mat-based Pilates workout that moves beyond just the abs by building balance, strength, and endurance for the entire body. Exercises flow together, challenging the mind and body and leaving you feeling invigorated and a little bit taller for the rest of the day. It is a compliment to your existing fitness routine and appropriate for anyone looking to improve posture, strength and body awareness.

How do you prepare for class?

I prepare for class by considering the typical movement patterns my clients get stuck in. I choose exercises that bring awareness and balance to areas of weakness caused by stress, work and everyday life. I am always looking for new ways to explain or target the parts of the body that regularly frustrate clients. Keeping things fresh and interesting is important for both them and myself.

What makes your class so popular?

I’ve structured my classes to build balance, strength, and flexibility. My classes are motivating, challenging and cater to the individual needs of my clients. I believe clients appreciate the level of detail and encouragement I provide. The 45-minute downtown class is also ideal for sneaking in a lunch-break workout.

What’s unique about your class?

I make my classes accessible, challenging and fun. All of my classes incorporate Pilates principles into a variety of movements that challenge your coordination, strength and endurance. My class isn’t just about exercising it’s also about educating and empowering clients. I use up-to-date research to explain the body’s biomechanical functions so that they can take their health and fitness into their own hands.

What do participants pay per class?

The class is free for members of Totum Life Science. It is $22 for non-members.

Losing weight, gaining muscle, becoming more fit are all things that happen on a regular basis at Reebok CrossFit Liberty Village, but more importantly the classes are fun and you get the opportunity to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do.

The atmosphere is great with people working and sweating beside you, which keeps you motivated; and members cheer each other on and provide support when you’re not sure if you can finish. Add to that the community aspect, where people know each other’s names and hold each other accountable to attending and you have a recipe for the most popular fitness classes in Liberty Village.

What’s unique about your class?

Our classes are unique on several levels. First, there is the CrossFit methodology, which takes the best of weightlifting, gymnastics and high-intensity cardio and combines it to build all-around fitness without specializing in only one area.

Second, we program different workouts everyday so you don’t get bored with the same routine. Third, we challenge you with new and different movements so there is always something to work toward (handstand push ups, rope climbs and Olympic lifting to name a few).

Fourth, our hour-long workouts are broken up into different parts most days. We do some type of skill or mobility, some type of strength training and finally a high intensity WOD (workout of the day) all in one hour. Finally, the workouts and movements are completely scalable, we can modify movements to anyone’s ability so that it is very inclusive and we welcome all fitness levels.

Do you use music?

Absolutely, we love to turn the tunes up loud during the WOD. I’m a big fan of rap while working out but you’ll hear everything from rock to dance as well—we like to mix it up. Right now you’ll hear a lot of Jay Z’s new album as well as Drake, Lil Wayne and others.

What do participants pay per class?

It depends on the membership option chosen so it can range from $9-$20.

We have all kinds of people come to my classes. We have doctors, engineers, businessmen — all kinds of people. And lots of fighters, too. Not everybody’s a fighter, anybody can come to get in shape. They come to just to get away for the stress of work because jujitsu is kind of like therapy. When you come and start training, you forget about the rest and you focus.

Usually we have between 20 and 50 guys per class. We also have lots of women, maybe four to six women per class.

What makes your class so popular?

I think especially for MMA, the ground work is very important. So when you come to my class you learn how to defend yourself on the ground. It’s not just for fighting, but for self-defence, too. In martial arts you can actually control someone without hitting them

How do you prepare for class?

We start with warm-ups and stretching. We teach techniques because technique is really important. Usually we start with a little standup technique, and then after ground techniques.

Do you use music?

Not really.

What do participants pay per class?

There are no drop-in classes, but memberships that include MMA training classes range from $75 to $149.

How do you stay in shape yourself?

I train all the time. But also, I’m a professional fighter, too. I fight, I get in shape. I’m going to have a fight soon, I think in December I have a fight lined up. It’s going to be in Brazil.

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